Bator to full?

[Mareloo]

You all are very welcome.

Silkiechicken, you so much more than me. I cant make out who's who in that "zoo". I agree, every egg is sure going to be a surprise package! About another 2 weeks to go. I haven't candled jet because I cant see any chick development for sure before day 10. The bator is holding true, no problems what so ever.

Nccatnip, I am in South Africa. Is most of the people on this site in the USA?

If I may, a few more questions for anybody that care to answer.

As a temperly measure I have wrapped a small saucer with chicken wire. You know the mesh we built cages with. It is for baby chicks to drink water without being able to get into the water. I am worried that there is something in the wire (that is touching the water) that wont be good for new baby's.. Am I right or not?

The news of the bator spread like wildfire in this community.. When I drove into my gate this afternoon a strange small boy was standing there waiting for me. He had 3 eggs, carefully wrapped in some toilet paper. (long story were he got them, but they are viable) He begged me to put it into my bator. I told him I will when I put in the next bath on condition that he must be Saturday morning here to wash my truck and to give me a 20 minute speech on how to care for a chicken. LOL My question is.. I can mark the eggs easy enough but how am I ever going to know which is his if they do hatch? Is there any way to mark a new baby? Any ideas?

That leads to my next question.. 9 baby's hatched on Monday and 2 on Tuesday. It is Wednesday evening here now.. Is there any hope left for the 5 eggs left in the bator? They haven't pipped or moved to my knowledge. I have tapped on there shells but don't hear anything.. I would like to clean the bator because Fryday is day 18 for my next small lot. I can make another plan if I have to, to hatch my second batch. When do other people toss the left over eggs? I dont want to mine if there is still a chance..

This will be my last question for tonight. I have never found out what is the correct way to clean a wooden bator. I am thinking, scrub it out with dishwasher and bleach, let it stand the day in the sun to air. (it is high summer here) Is that right or wrong? Any thoughts?

 

[silkiechicken]

I would have to say about 99.5% of members are in USA.

The metal in the waterer could leach out ions and such which as long as it's not rusting, should be ok. They do make metal watering cans.

You can mark the eggs, and put the eggs in a special location in the bator. When the chicks hatch, you can use a marker to color their feathers or put a ring around their legs so you can tell them apart. Be sure to make sure the kid knows that not all eggs hatch just in case.

To give a final check on the eggs, tonight you can poke a hole in the air cell side and see if it is moving, you can also candle to see if it is moving. Chances are, unless they started at slightly different times, they wont make it. There is always hope though.

For cleaning, I just use soap and water for the whole thing and let it dry.

Good luck with the rest! What are you going to do with them all!

 

[Mareloo]

He know all about it.. That was my first thought to.. LOL

Thanks for great advise.. again!

I got plenty plans for them. All that (in my eye) got something special about them, I keep. Chicks from my own flock I keep. I will love to built the flock out to something awesome. It is a hobby. I make the time and can feed them. LOL, I will most properly post pics and ask advice on "specialness" The rest is for Christmas. I am donating 40 of them to two places here. Live chickens is very very scares around here. It is a cultural thing. 8 out of 10 people here prefer a life chicken to a slaughtered one. The rest I will sell for Christmas dinner and to make up some of my savings.

I got another 60 eggs yesterday from the same guy.. Even if only half of that lot hatch I will be very happy!

 

[BirdBrain]

Wow, you are up to your eyeballs in eggs!!

That is going to be some feed bill if you hatch out most of those babies.

 

[MissPrissy]

I don't know how I missed this post! Those photo are amazing.

 

[Mareloo]

Oh wow, I didn't relies the pics will go down so well. Somebody asked and I thought I will just take and show the harsh reality of it all. Nothing glorified here. I am thinking more sugar ones now.. LOL

It really really helps to be able to communicate with a community that knows all about chickens. I hope to return the favor one day.

I am feeling much welcomed here.

Thank you

 

[nccatnip]

We really love getting to know other chicken lovers in other countries!!! Keep the details and photos coming!!!!!

 

[skeeter9]

Your pictures are very interesting! The chickens are beautiful! You should get some nice babies!!

It sounds like you will have a great way to get rid of the chickens you don't want to keep. So, the people there slaughter their own? Interesting!

It's very nice of you to donate some of your flock for Christmas meals. I love helping out those less fortunate.

Will you be able to sell some of your eggs, also?

Thanks so much for sharing South Africa with us!!!! Can't wait to see pics of your hatch.

Have a great day,

Lori

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
That has always baffled me about people in the US, what's so wrong with butchering your own food? I guess it's cultural and people are used to meat coming on plastic trays.

Does meat come on plastic tray's in Africa? Or is most meat still fresh when you get it?

 

[Mareloo]

Quote:
That has always baffled me about people in the US, what's so wrong with butchering your own food? I guess it's cultural and people are used to meat coming on plastic trays.

Does meat come on plastic tray's in Africa? Or is most meat still fresh when you get it?

I need to get some work done so I cant read and answer everything (will this afternoon) but this caught my eye..

You mean people dont slaughter for them self at all there? :|

We have got supermarkets and shops.. You can drive into the city and go buy yourself plastic tray meat or go to the butcher (more popular) and buy yourself box meat.. Some people just see that as a compleat waist of time and good money.. LOL

I will try and explain. We got a lot of small (and I mean small!!) busnesses around here. We trade with each other, know each other, look out for each other ext ext ext and were possible we stimulate the local economy. Come year end and were you guys give each other pens (?) or calenders (?) or maybe a good whiskey (?) we, if we really want to honor somebody, give them a live chicken out of our own flock. There are few greater gifts. Maybe because eating is a social thing for us. We got no tv dinners and those stuff in a can. We eat, share, and talk!

I do hope I have made sense!